CHAN 2024: 47 goals scored so far — and still counting

 2024 AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 

 WEDNESDAY (AUGUST 13) GROUP B FIXTURES 
🇲🇬 Madagascar v Central African Republic 🇨🇫 (5pm EAT)
🇲🇷 Mauritania vs Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 (8pm EAT)

When Madagascar, Central African Republic, Mauritania and Burkina Faso emerge out of the dugout at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam for today's two African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) Group B games, these teams' fans and rest of the watching world will be eager to see the nets rattled.

Any goal scored in these two fixtures in Tanzania's port city will add on the 47 already netted in 22 games across the four groups since this historic eighth edition of Africa's flagship biennial tournament featuring exclusively home-based players got under way 11 days ago.

The expectation is that this first edition to be hosted by three countries — Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania — definitely still has a lot more to offer in its goal-scoring department.

 Top goal scorers 

So far, the goals have come in all forms and as it stands, six players are joint-top scorers, each with two goals to their name.

They are Uganda's Allan Okello, Kenya's Austin Odhiambo, Tanzania's Clement Mzize, Angola's Kaporal, South Africa's Thabiso Kutumela and Sudan's Abdel Raouf.

 Draws 

Each of the four groups have had at least a draw result.

In Group A, Angola drew 1-1 with co-hosts Kenya in Nairobi, Madagascar and Mauritania produced a stalemate in Dar es Salaam in Group B.

Algeria and South Africa could not be separated at the end of 90 in a 1-1 result in Kampala while Group D produced two draws in Zanzibar City: Congo 1-1 Sudan and Senegal 1-1 Congo.

 Penalty goals 

Five of the 47 goals scored so far at this tournament have been from the penalty spot:

Austin Odhiambo converted from the spot in the 12th minute as co-hosts Kenya drew 1-1 with Angola in Group A.

In first-half stoppage time, Tanzania's Abdul Sopu slotted his side into the lead to put the co-hosts on course for a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in Grop B. Burkina Faso would then become penalty beneficiaries as Abdul Abass Guiro (61) and Patrick Malo (78) succesfully scored their penalties in a 4-2 triumph over Central African Republic.

In Group C, Okello of Uganda did not even do a run-up to the ball as he coolly slotted home from the spot as the co-hosts brushed aside Guinea 3-0.

In Group D, Walieldin Khidir's 44th-minute penalty put a dominant Sudan on course for a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Nigeria, a result that condemned the CHAN Eagles to a premature exit from the tournament with a game to spare.

 Own goals 

Twice have we seen players bury their heads in their hands over the freakish goal after turning the ball into their own net.

Quinto was the first scorer of this unwanted goal as Angola collapsed to a 2-0 defeat to joint-record winners Morocco in Group A in Nairobi.

Then came Nigerian defender Leonard Ngenge's blunder 25 minutes into their crushing, tournament-ending 4-0 defeat to a resplendent Sudan side in Group D in Zanzibar City.

 Fastest and latest goals 

As it stands, Jo Paciencia has scored the fastest goal at this tournament, his strike coming only seven minutes into Angola's 1-1 draw against Kenya's Harambee Stars.

On the other end, Ange Zoumara's stoppage time consolation goal (90+5th minute) for Central African Republic against Burkina Faso in a 4-2 result is so far the latest goal netted at this edition. That game is also the one with the most number of goals scored thus far: six.

So with that said, will this evening's two Group B matches bump up the goals tally to the 50th mark? It's not long until we find out.

Madagascar, in fourth, will be hoping to revive their qualification hopes when they face off with bottom side Central African Republic in the earlier kickoff (5pm EAT).

Later at 8pm (EAT), second-placed Mauritania will join already-qualified co-hosts Tanzania in the quarters if they beat Burkina Faso, who are third, and Madagascar fail to beat Central African Republic.